Ventilating system for submarines



Nov. 9, 1943. w, F SHEFHELD 2,333,686

VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR SUBMARINES Filed May 20, 1942 2 Sheets Sheec 1 W144 MM FSHEFFIEL o.

Nov. 9, 1943. w. F. SHEFFIELD 2,333,686

- VENTILATING SYSTEM FOR SUBMARINES Filed May 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill/II/IIIIII/II 35 3/ 3 w v 17 r Patente d Nov. 9, 943

i amass v m-arms SYSTEM FOR SU'BMARINES vt'iiiitm i sii'efiieia, rant, as. application May' w; 1942; Seiia1No. 442523:

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This invention referslto' subhisrines snduio e particularly to systems for tlfe ventilation and removal of foul gases-therein and the air modification of the occupied sections or t e vessel. it; has" among its objectsto provide arrangein'effi sf I fih .VBSAISQI 31 .5, aw

the used air therefrom when-submerged: againstthe pressure ofthe surrounding waters. 7 Object is t conne t flx a i stii fi engines to outlets external to the, v ';'ssel and through equipment "tfiatflwiil enable them to pass outinto the waters and exhaust freelythe when the' vessel' is submerged. A object isjto have thesyste f chemicals to chain mospher' within the A still further oiij'ct is to;

for air-conditioni air together with the gases exliat'lstd "frorfijlfi internal combustion engines used in" the sub marines combined in a single system and forced out of the vessel together through a screw threaded mechanism designed to facilitate their propulsion through the waters under pressure and their mixture therein, to make the bubbles resulting therefrom relatively inconspicuous.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

The atmospheric conditions within a submerged submarine are a source of considerable inconvenience and danger to the occupants due to their vitiation as the result of breathing and mixture with various products used within the chambers of the vessel. The engines are usually of the internal combustion type and develop gases in their exhaust that are very poisonous and dangerous. There has been great difficulty, up to the present, in getting rid of same while the engines are running during the submergence of the vessel. In fact it is considered impractical to run same and propel the vessel under water at the same time. This invention is intended to overcome these difficulties and greatly increase the efficiency of the vessel, as well as increase the safety and convenience of its occupants. This is done by providing an arrangement for air-conditioning the interior chambers of the vessel while submerged and removing the exhaust gases from the engines by forcing them to dissipate through the waters at a pressure greater than that of the water, through which the submarine is travelling. Further details of the construction and operation of these arrangements are indicated in the drawings and the following description, outlining an example of a submarine having such arrangements provided therein.

(c1. iii-41's)" In the drawings; illustrate an assess ment ofthis invention: I l i Figure- 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a Suwanee hating an air' 'corfdi'ti'of ing and exhausting system nibtiiy'ifig this tior'i indicated herein; 3

Figure 2' is'aj transverse s-ctionai view through the submarine alongl'iiie 2:4 or ure 1, Figure 3 is an eiiiargii ioirgiiiu rialsectional detail, of the exhausting aii'dgesrenidving" outiet usedi'fi -the air? onditioning systiii'iins. for r'e-. inet'ihg the e heed gasesundr apressure gifiater tfiafi that or the surrounding water in which the submarine is sutmsrgea in,

V Figure 4 s a long aura-i seamen view tamer showing amodified arrangement of the exhausting and air-=onditiomrfgsysteih bi'it lined in' this invention,

, i asseuse efsje sectional view through and Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail of the exhausting and gas removing outlet used in the air-conditioning system, showing the exhausting pumping means directly connected to the main drive shaft.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction indicated, I represents the hull structure of a conventional submarine with a propellor 42 and with partitions that divide it up into the usual rooms used by the personnel and occupied by the various types of equipment used therein. The equipment 4 indicates internal combustion engines used for propelling the vessel and 5 the line of exhaust pipes leading therefrom. A system of ducts 6 with valves 8 and register outlets 1 serves to inject clean air under slight pressure into the various rooms, to mix with the atmosphere therein and keep it normal. This duct piping connects with a tank 9 which is suitably attached to the framework of the submarine and has facilities III for controlling the pressure of air into it. A removable compressed air cylinder II is attached thereto. This air cylinder enables new air 2 to be supplied to the the submarine taken use me 545 of Figure 4;;-

Pumps I4 connect with the duct piping 3I and remove the air coming into them, and discharges it under pressure into a reservoir I5 where it accumulates until removed by a pressure booster pump I6, through connection 32, valve 33 and forced through the remainder of the system 26, check valve 35 thence through the helical or screw-like mechanism I1 mounted in a cylindrical casing 34. The latter terminates in an outlet I8 that projects through the wall of the submarine for discharge into the sea. The duct piping has check valves I9 and other suitable devices to prevent the return of exhausted gases into the piping or the entrance of the outside water under pressure.

The internal combustion engines 4 exhaust their gases into the pipe line 5, which in turn connects with the mufiler 4|, pipe 36, check valve I9 through pump I4 which exhausts the gas into the gas reservoir under pressure. From the reservoir 25 the exhaust gases pass through; valve I26 and incidental piping I21, pump I6 and helical mechanism IT. The pump I6 and helical mechanism I! are driven by motor 31 and chain 38. The check valves I9 and 35 are provided to prevent any return of thegases or the admission of the pressure waters into the engine system. The motor 31 and chain 38 may be eliminated and pump 39 placed directly on the shaft 40, inside of housing 4|.

In the operation of the system, the air cylinder II and regulating valve II] are opened and allows theair 2 to flow into the ducts. 6 and through stop valve 8 through the registers I and into the submarine. [The register outlets are preferably directed towards the floor. from the ceiling by registers I3 and conveyed through valves I2 into ducts Si by the compressing air pumps I4 which convey it to the storage tank I5 under pressure. The pump I6 takes the air and gases from the air or gas stor- The air 3 is removed age compartments I5 or 25 and discharges them into the helical mechanism I! from which they are exhausted into the seat at sufilcient pressure to overcome the resistance ofiered, this is accomplished through the assistance of the helical screw device in driving out the water as it seeps into the cylindrical casing.

The check valves prevent any return gases or water from backing into the ducts. When the air cylinder I I is empty, it is replaced by another and thus keeps the rooms supplied with new air. The air cylinders may be restored with air, when the submarine is running above the surface by using the pumps to compress same therefore. The helical mechanism serves to mix the exhaust gases and water together as it passes therethroughand distribute same into the seas in a uniform and comminuted form that makes them less conspicuous on the surface of the seas and lessens the burden on the pumps.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings, it is not desired to limit this application to this particular form or in any other way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: 1 V r In a system of the .class described for submarines, a. helical mechanism operating within a cylinder in a rotative manner and arranged to project material in a' predetermined direction, and duct means connecting the cylinder and helical mechanism with the atmosphere in the submarine for exhausting same, means for operating the said mechanism and means for keeping the air within the duct means under pressure while the mechanism is operating.

WILLIAM F. SHEFFIELD. 

